80 year olds should NOT be working...anywhere..

[SoCalDem]

ESPECIALLY in the Supreme Court... They should all be term limited..
They should be a minimum of 50 yrs old and should serve no more than 15 years, without being RE-affirmed by the senate..

When the supreme court was set up, the lifespan was 25 years less than it is now.,. Their tenure was never intended to span 3 generations.. The very fact that they were to be appointed by presidents, assumes the fact that there will be regular openings to fill by presidents of all philosophies..

The very fact that 80 year old "judges" are interpreting the constitution as it applies to issues that are so foreign to them or their time in law practice has made them irrelevant.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The constitution says otherwise.

These are lifetime appointments. Article III says, "The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour..." Amending the Constitution is (fortunately) very difficult, so chances are it ain't gonna happen. Anyhow, forcing somebody to retire just because they have reached a particular age is unfair and ageist. I don't like Rrehnquist, but the fact that he's 80 doesn't mean he's become incompetent. Many peoople are completely capable into their 90s. His age also doesn't mean he's become out of touch -- actually, he was a fascist asshole 30 years ago.

[gmoney]

2. For most, work is better than retirement

A lot of older folks like to work because it keeps them young and in touch with people, etc. My Dad is working at 72 and plans to work until he can't -- he's seen too many of his contemporaries just wither up and die on the vine after they retire.

And is there an easier job than being Supreme Court Justice? Pampered is the adjective I've heard most... maybe they mean in the adult diaper sense of the word.

Not saying Rehnquist shouldn't step down... especially if he's in his last days.

[TahitiNut]

3. I disagree. It's a matter of health and ability, not age.

I wouldn't want Rehnquist, Scalia, or Thomas on the USSC no matter how old or young they were.

[sr_pacifica]

5. I agree

Age has nothing to do with principles, compassion, intelligence, and knowledge.

[SOL]

13. agreed

Besides, what is wrong with someone continuing to work if they choose to do so?

[Longhorn]

4. Jimmy Carter is 80 years old and I think he'd be an excellent

Supreme Court justice, even without a law degree.

[SOL]

12. Jimmy Carter as SC Justice ?!?!?!?!

Granted, one does not have to have a law degree to be a justice on the bench, and I am not advocating an amendment to the Constitution, but there were far fewer laws back then and likewise, far fewer legal tests to know and apply. Are you suggesting a more or less on the job training here?

[pelagius]

6. Please don't say 80-year-olds shouldn't be working...

...since I'll probably have to be doing so to pay off the Bush deficit. Retire? That's what I'll do each night after dragging my wrinkly ass home from my Walmart greeter job. }(

[Vickers]

7. George Washington lived to be 77

Thomas Jefferson lived to be 83, James Madison lived to be 85, etc. etc.

It's only us poor folks that drop dead in their 60s!

[DieboldMustDie]

8. Justice Stevens is 84.

:shrug:

[foreigncorrespondent]

9. SoCal...

...while I agree with what you are saying re: The Supreme Court, I have to disagree with your statement about 80 year olds not working anywhere.

I know one over 80 year old who if she wasn't working someone very close to me would be living on the street right about now. In this particular household the 80 year old is the only one who could gain employment, because for the younger in the house, jobs this particular person could be doing has been all outsourced.

[SoCalDem]

10. Shouldn't ...from the standpoint of

they should not HAVE to...


As for supremos.. well..they are not exactly checking people out at the 7-11, and their life is pretty cushy..but I still think that 30 years on the supreme ct is too long..just mho:)

[SOL]

11. 80 year olds should NOT be working...anywhere.." reply

Would you propose a constitutional amendment? If so how likely do you think it would be to pass since both sides will want to retain their selections?

Also, you bring up the point of the life span at the time the country was founded, yet you seem to neglect the fact that many prominent figures at that time lived to a ripe old age. Under these circumstances, don't you think the Founder's would have included such a provision if they had intended it?

[SoCalDem]

14. Here's an interesting site with ALL justices listed

http://www.oyez.org/oyez/portlet/justices/

[OneBlueSky]

15. there are a hell of a lot of seniors who are 80+ years old . . .

who have more brains, experience, insight, and even stamina than most 30-year-olds I know . . . they should work as long as they want to and are capable of . . . we're all better off for their contributions . . .